I think we are all in agreement that yesterday’s draw was very disappointing. Not just the result, but the performance as well.
Celtic fans are used to seeing fast-flowing, attacking football where our wingers are constantly creating and driving at the opposition defences.
But yesterday, we didn’t see that. We saw Sead Haksabanovic struggle to capture the form he seems to produce when he makes his regular substitute appearances.
We also witnessed Daizen Maeda work hard but ultimately create nothing in a game that was completely stifled and killed by Motherwell’s outrageous game plan.
But if there is one thing positive we can take from that result, it was the performance of young Rocco Vata.
The 18-year-old winger has been training with the Celtic first team this season and it seems that his hard work is starting to pay off.
With Jota and Liel Abada currently injured, Vata started yesterday’s game on the bench. Although he only got eleven minutes on the pitch, the youngster showed flashes of the form that we have seen him produce for the Celtic B team.
His direct running and skill set up two chances, one that Korean striker Hyeongyu Oh should have buried in the 87th minute.
His appearance yesterday means that he has more first-team minutes under his belt which can only benefit his growth.
What does Vata’s Celtic future look like?
If he continues his development and shows more of what he produced yesterday, then he could have a big future at the club.
Vata has been tearing it up in the B team with eleven goals to his name this season and Ange Postecoglou clearly rates the talented winger.
But it is important not to place too much hype on those young shoulders.
Expectations, as well as his development, need to be managed.
Ange Postecoglou will no doubt do that, but as the season plays to its close, I would expect to see the youngster earn more minutes playing in the Celtic first team to continue his already promising development.
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